1. In 1781, the Battle of Cowpens took place in South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War. The Battle was a significant victory for American forces led by Brigadier General Daniel Morgan over British forces led by Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton. Virginia soldiers played a crucial role in this battle, which ultimately helped turn the tide of the war.

2. On January 8, 1863, the infamous Confederate raider, the CSS Alabama, sank two Union ships off the coast of Portugal. The Confederate Navy's most successful commerce raider, the CSS Alabama, was built in Liverpool, England, and sailed the world's oceans intercepting and capturing Union ships. This incident marked the height of the CSS Alabama's success, although it was eventually sunk in a battle with the USS Kearsarge off the coast of France.

3. In 1962, Virginia Governor J. Lindsay Almond Jr. ordered the closing of public schools in Prince Edward County, Virginia, in response to a court order to desegregate. The closure lasted for five years, and during that time, white students attended private schools while African American students were left without access to education. The Supreme Court ordered the county to reopen its public schools in 1969, but the effects of the closure are still felt today.

4. On January 8, 1973, Virginia coach George Welsh accepted the head coaching position at the University of Virginia. Welsh is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in UVA football history, leading the Cavaliers to 13 bowl games and finishing his career in 2000 with a record of 189-132-4. Welsh was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

5. Virginia's own Dave Matthews Band released their first studio album, "Under the Table and Dreaming," on January 8, 1994. The album quickly gained critical acclaim and includes hits such as "What Would You Say" and "Ants Marching." The band has since released eight more studio albums and has become one of the biggest-selling bands of all time.